Vandals Tip, Break 124 Gravestones

WINSTED — Residents came to the Forest View Cemetery all morning Sunday to see the 124 gravestones tipped and broken by vandals over the weekend.

Some residents came to make sure markers of relatives were undisturbed, while others came simply to look. All seemed to have the same reaction as they picked their way slowly through the broken markers: disgust and disbelief.

``Whoever did this has got to be sick,'' said Cliff Hoxie, who went to the damaged area of the cemetery with his wife, Ellie, to check on her aunt's grave, which was not hit. ``What a shame.''

Police are investigating the vandalism, but said Sunday that they don't have any leads on who is responsible. They discovered the disturbed graves Saturday morning while on patrol.

About six months ago, police found about 25 damaged gravestones in another section of the town-owned cemetery, but this weekend's damage was far more extensive.

Officer Greg Lopardo, who is investigating the crime, said he was shocked when he realized how many stones had been damaged.

``It's disrespectful,'' Lopardo said. ``It's disgusting, really.''

Because the vandalism occurred in the highest, most remote section of the cemetery, most of the damaged graves were among the oldest at Forest View, including some that marked the remains of Civil War veterans.

And, given the extent of the damage, it's clear to police that more than one person is responsible, Lopardo said. Police have not determined if the vandals used anything other than their own hands to knock over the graves.

If caught, the vandals will be charged with two felonies -- first- degree criminal mischief and tampering with a cemetery, police said.

Officials weren't sure Sunday when or how the damage would be repaired.

``Hopefully, if we can catch the person or people responsible for this they can be responsible for fixing some of the damage,'' Lopardo said, echoing many residents' feelings.